Leather-folding machine.



R. H. LUFKIN-.

LEATHER FOLDING APPLIOATION TILED MAY 9, 1906.

MTA/[SSZF MACHINE.

Patented June 21,1910.

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R. H. LUFKIN" LEATHER FOLDING MAOHINE. AP'ILIUATION FILED MAY s, 1906.

Ptented June 21,1910.

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I/I/UWESSISZ v WVf/WJK MQJ aMaW R. H.-L UFKIN. LEATHER IOLDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1906.

I Patented June 21, 1910.

3 SEEETS-SHEET s.

; 7 //v VENTUR- 2 M 06 HZWMA UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. LUFKIN, OF MEDFORID, MASSACHUSETTS.

LEATHER-FOLDING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t d Application filed May 9, 1906. Serial No. 315,841.

material at the complemovement, a; Inthisyponnection the speci c improvements shown anddescribed herein comprise cotiperatin'g feed ing members both,

I alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD H.-LUFK1'1-:', a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of MiddleseX -and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have in gagement with the 55 tion of a 'feed n ofwhich are arranged vented certain Improvements in Leatherretreat from engagement with the material 60 Folding Machines, of which the following at the-completion of a feeding movement; description, in connection with the accom a A preferred embodiment of this feature of panying drawings, is a specification, like the invention comprises what may be called reference characters on the drawings indh for convenience a double four-motion eating like pal'tsin the several figures; feed 2'. a, cooperating feeding devices each .85

This invention relates to folding machines of which is given four motions for efiec'tin wherein the material to be folded is fed so one feeding movement and preparingfor the as to present successive portions of its edge next. The feeding memb.ers are.firstmoved to -the action of folding means. toward each. other to engageathe mate al' More particularly the invention pertains between them; are ,I'noivedforwarj. g ig to improvements in the means for mam ulating the material preparatory to and uring the folding operation; and said improve: ments are designed primarily tobe applied to machines of the type shown and described in United. States Letters Patent, Nos; 294,394: and 713,657 granted, respectively, on March 4, 18S4and November 18, 1902.

In machines heretofore used, it has been unison to feedlthematerialiiare thenmoved apart to release it; and finally are returned{ to their initial positions preparatory to engaging the material anew. I

One type of machine well known in tlre 75 art includes a highly advanta eons form of stretching mechanism for hol ing thematerial smooth whileit is being acted upon. Said mechanism comprises astretcherfootcustomary to feed the material intermitanda 006p. rating cylindrica-l roller'on'a tently by means of cooperating feeding tiOna-ry axis, which enga e-thec-niate'ri 1 be members, one above the other, which engage tween them. The strete er-foot-is- -moved the material between them and move in unilaterally, preferablyin'. the direction-of feed son to feed it. The upper feeding member of the materiahto stretch the latter wlijilefit has been arranged to retreat from engageis held against bodily movement-by aiiiother 85 ment-with the material at the completion of instrumentalityl During this movent'entlof a feeding movement, to return thereupon to the stretcher-foot the roller revolves in ooh its initial position, and to reengage the 'masonance with thestretching movement of the 1 terial for another feedingmovement. The material, Thestretcher-foot has a substanlOWer-feeding member has been-arranged to .t-ially plane acting surface and -this acting 90 .4 from its. intended position.

lower feeding member ordinarily remained with itin aklirection opposite to itsproper feed; and thereby the materialwas likely return to its initial position by sim ly retracing the path of its forward ceding movement without retreating from the" ma-, terial. Under these. circumstances said.

surface presses the material against the cy-. v, 1 lindrical rolier. Evidently, only a:::.:-very. small area-of the cylindricalis'urface. ofzth roller can contact with "the material rand-i. this; slight contact has been -foiind ll snllicient'-tor;- permit the roller properly as to cotip'eratewit-h the stretcher-foot. For example, a consider- 7 able force has been applied to one surface of 1 in contact with the material during at least a partof its return travel, and by reason of this contact,

tended todrag the material the material by thestretcher fo'ot while prac tically none has been applied to the op osite gsurfaceby the r'oller, and, consequent y the action of the stretching force is applied unevenly, givingrise to atendeneyitoetear-tth material when the min i rapidly. Moreover th the strctcher-foot an ciently positive to lag are, -e variably an adequate istretchin 100. to be retracted somewhat after it had. been. fed, or to-b'e wrinkled or otherwise displaced In order to avoid such ,difiiculties as thes c,'the present invention contemplates, as an important feature, the employment of cooperating feeding members, one above the other, the lower one of which is arranged to retreat from en material. These disadvanta es are obviated by provisions of the present invention a feature of which comprises stretching means arranged to exert a uniform pull on all parts of t e material engaged thereby.

A further feature of the invention comprises the combination of stretching devices arranged to en a e the material between ,th'eni b exten e contact therewith, and means or movin said devices insubstantially parallel pat s for stretching the mater1a Qther'featnres of. the invention and combinations of features, will elucidatedhereinafter and willbe defined in the claims.

" e invention will be described herein, for purposes of illustration, as embodied in a lhachme of the ty e shown in the patents above referred to; ut nothing herein contained is to be construed as limiting the inyention-in the scope of its application to use ginning of a stretching movement; Fig. 2

is a side,elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a detail pers ective of certain ofthe feeding instrumenta ities viewed from a] point slightly above the sheet in Fig. 2 and in the geiieral direction indicated by'the'arrow 2-,

Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation similar to Fig. 1," showing the elements in position at the end of a stretching movement; Fig. 5 is a detail side elevation of part of the 40 stretcher mechanism; 'Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. In the operation of the specific machine shown in the drawings, the material rests upon a bed a supported by the base 6 of the machine. The material is introduced by placing it on the bed it (its edge in contact with an edge gage'lO) in" position to be engaged by the feeding devices. Thereafter the first cycle'of operations of the machine serves toqfeed the forward end of the ma.- terial into the path of a knife 11 which tooperates'with a shearing-block 12 to snip the edge 50 as to facilitate folding if the edge be curved. The sni ping takes while 'thematerial is hel stationary y a pres'ser-foot 13, and during the return of the feeding devices preparatory to the next feed. The second cycle feeds the material another step forward so .as to carry the spipped portion of thezedge against a beve e u wardl until sli htly beyond a'right ang t the'b ddy of "the material,

terial is at rest againp another slit is made and consequently it will lace folder-block 14 which turns said edgec When the-mar:

the knife 11 is smpping ahd the feeding devices are making their return trip. As the material progresses, its forward end is soon brought into association with the stretching devices which engage the, material as a feedin movement ceases, be ore the foldresser 15 acts. Durin this stretching operation the material is he (1 on one side of the foldresser by the stretching devices and on the other side by the presserfoot 13, the latter engaging the material simultaneously with its release by the feeding devices; and thus the material is held.

smooth to be pressed while the knife 11 makes another sni in that portion of the edge presented to it-by the last feed move ment. Thus the material guided by the operator with the assistance of the edge gage 10, is fed along and stretchedso that its edgelniay be operated upon by the knife 11 cooperating wlth the shearing-block'12, by the presser-foot 13, the folder-block 14, and the fold-presser 15.

and stretch it just,

Preferably the devices just enumerated operate in substantially the same manner as in the machines of the patents aforesaid; suflice to describe them very. briefly herein. The knife 11 is carried adjustably at the lower extremity of a plunger 16 which is reciprocated axially in its supporting brackets through the agency of an eccentric 17 rigid w th the power-shaft 18 of the machine. An eccentric strap 19, encircling the eccentric '17, has

an arm 20 which is attached to the-knife plun er 16 by means'of a pivot 21(see-Fig. 1). he shearing-block 12 (see Fig. 2) 1s norm'ally stationary and lies with its cutting edge immediately adjacent to the path of the knife 11; but said block may-be with'- drawn from this position, to interrupt the snipping operation when desired, by deiio pressmg a handle 22 with a result which is ully explained'in the aforesaid Patent No.

The resser-foot 13 is carried-bye hori zontally extendin farm 23 secured to the lower extremity o the presser-foot plun or 24. This plunger 24 is reciprocated axially for actuating te -presser-foot in a' manner which will be elucldated hereihafter' in conncction with the feeding devices.

The folder-block 14 may be formed as shown in the aforesaid patents. Preferably it consists merelyx'of a block, rigid with the bed a, havinia vertically disposed bevel of suitable con rmation to turn up the edge of the material as it is presented thereto.

The fold-presser 15 is su aplied by one arm of a bell-crank lever 25 which is pivoted to a bracket 26 and is rocked through the agency of a link engagin an eccentric 27 on the power-shaft l8. ormally the rocking of the foldpresser serves to fold down the upturned edge of the material and to press the fold against the bed a, but this action may be suspended at will by lifting a handle 15 28,'th reby actuating certain devices (fully descr' ed in said patents) which elevate the pivot of the folcl-presser and render its rocle ing ineffective. 1

The present invention is more particularly concerned with the instrumentalities which control the material durin the course of operation of the devices ust alluded to. The former include the feeding devices and the stretching devices. The feeding devices 25, comprise an upper feed-foot A and a lower feed-foot B, an'd the stretchin devices comprise an upper stretcher-foot and a lower stretcher-foot D.

,' The upper feed-foot A is preferably. inte- 3Q g'ral with an arm 29 of a feed-frame c which is secured at the, lower extremity ,of a feedplunger d (see Fig. 3). The'feedframe c has-also arms 30 and 31, the former bearing an adjustable'pin which fits in an elongated slot irrthe ar'm 20of the eccentric strap 19. The arm 31 extends downwardly throughan appropriatelyformed aperture in the bed a and is associated as presently described with the lower feed-foot B. The feed-frame c is '40 arranged to be oscillated ina plane perpendicular to the axis of the feed-plunger (Z. This oscillation of the feed-frame is effected through the co-aetion'of the eccentric-strap arm 20 and the .fe'ed'frame arm 30. During the elevation of the k1'1if e plunger 10. through theagency of the eccentric 1.7, the

- arm 2.0 is also elevated and during a part of its. upward tra v-el (see arrow 32, Fig. 3) its elongated slot acts on the pin of arn' 30 to move the latter in the direct-ion of arrow 33 Fig53. This serves tQ'lT-RQV'C the ent.ir.'c fce l'- frameaboutathe' axis of-- thefeetlplunger (Z and. thereby both; feed-feet? A and '13 are moved in the-direction. cram- 34 of Fig.

This" constitutes, the-forward 'feeding' movement of the" feetl 'feet and it takes place'aft'er they havebeen moved toward each other for engaging the ma rial bctw ceii'lthem. :"i-he lower feed-foot] with a carrier'c' whltihissupported ht.

positc ends by a roile 35 and a cam re .spectively: .'I.he:.r'o'l1 has astationarY axis provided lay-Ia screw whichthreatls into? the base I; a r1d"fs aitl;ro'll-r is'engiilfedhy pp;

fits easily witlfint'an {the supporting .bracit is 'jpreferably; integral set-screw pJrO ebt s t o positely disposed bifurcations in the end of the carrier e in such. a manner as to leave the letter free to reciprocate len thwise (see Fig. l). The opposite end of t e carrier (2 resents a fin er 36 which overlies the actmg face of t e cam f. A spring-pressed knob 37 abuts against the finger 36 to hold it against the cam f and to depress it when said cam permits (see Figs. 1 and 3). A.

vertical cylindrical hub g is rotatably supported on the icarriere, the upper end bf said hub seating in a cylindrical recess iothe body ofthe feed-foot-B (see Fig. 3...) and the lower endbeing journaled in the lower part of the carrier. tThe head of a screw 38 underlies a portion' of the hub g and prevents its droppin away from its'seat; and said hub is suppfied with a handle 39 for facilitating its removal when the screw 38 has been withdrawn. The hub g is bifurcated throughout the greater part of its length to provide an elongated=slot for the reception of a: )in/rig id -w1th' thef fame arm 31 (see Figs: 1, 3 and 4). Evid with this arrangemen-t'the carrier eisforeed to reciprocate 'enclWise-whe'n th ftBfEd fIQIXlO c is oscillated as already described and thus the upper and lower feed-feet A and B are moved in unison, forwardly for feeding the material and rearwardly preparatory to reengaging the material. I v During a forward feeding movement. the acting face of the lower feed-foot'l li stantially fiush-wii-tl13*-the top"offt bej the cam f, which-is constructed-t H purpose, beingthen n 'the positi' Fig. 1. This cam-is pivoted bracket rigid with the'base b, "a'rid is v nected by a link 41 to a'cra'nk h on a rocks shaft '5. The rock-shaft z is oscillated through-the agency-of a crank 42 and link .43 which connect said shaft with an eccentrio on the power-shaft ;18 (seefFi'g. 2). In order to permit adj stmen t the cam f, for altei'ing',tlie:,p"itfi 's'determined b it for the low-c "f f B3 provided with? np'cc H si pivot 40 (see Fig.- '(i of}; is preferably pf" ided"wjt l' a -;crew-driver (s elljigl 1) to faci'litate ing the pivot andthereby shiftingtheeo. centric so to adjustthe cam upwardly, downwardly orhorizontally. A set-screw is provided for securing the'pivot in.. adj usted position. In order to. permit ready withdrawal of the eccentric' p ivot ..4:0', ilg is naled atonev end in a sl" [{fiig sleeve and ears ag'a't e o'e'ntric supporting shaft of saidpivot to holdit in adjusted position. 'Wherithe set-screw "is: removed the slecve and-pivot may be easily jou'r:

withdrawn through the enlarged aperture in g the bracket.

As shown in Fig. 1, the feed-feet A and B have just completed a forward feeding movement and are about to commence their return. The power-shaft 18 is driven constantly in the direction indicated by arrow 44 Fig. 1. The coiiperation of the various elements is so timed that, when aforward feed ceases, the cam f is rocked in the di rection of arrow (Figs. 1 and 2) until it reaches the position shown in Fig. 4 wherein the lower portion of its acting face is brought benea the finger 36 to permit the springpressed knob 37 to depress said finger for retracting the lowerpresser-foot B downwardly, and removing it from contact with the niateriaL. At about the same time the feed-frame 0 begins its return movement in adirection opposite to arrow 34 in Fig. 3 in order to prepare for a new engagement of the material for the next feed. In the meantime the upper'feed-foot A is also withdrawn from contact with the material by being moved upwardly in a the lever 46 and is arranged to cooperate with a stationary shelf 50 for elevating both the resser-foot plunger and feed-plunger to permit the material to be introduced readily beneath the presse'r-ioot and upper feedfoot. The construction and mode of operation of the devices just described are well known in the: art and it will sufiice to say that when the knife-plunger is'elev'ated by the eccentric 17, tlie'pres ser-foot is lifted foot and the upper feed-foot is held down by the spring i k-and when the kulfe-plunger is depressed said feed-foot is elevated and the 'presser-foot is held down by said spring 1 The co-action of the various parts of the mechanism is such that the upper and lower feed-feet are retreated from the material.

When the -feed-fcet have returned ftor 151igaging themateri'al anew, the upper feedbymovemcut of the cam f'from'the position,

1 shown in Fig. A to. that shown'm Fig. :1,

this movement taking place in'a direction opposite to arrow 45 (Fig.- 1). In this mandepressed in themenner justi s ige "gested aud',.the lower feed-foot is elevated uerthe feed-feetare. caused to inove together for enga ing the material firmly between them. hereafter the feed-frame 0 is rocked in the direction of arrow 34 (Fig. 3) for feeding the material. At the end of a feed movement the stretching devices ini- G is supplied by and the floor of the socket k. A lug n Fig. f

5) projectin laterally from the top 0 the socket k, is direaded to receive an adjusting screw 51 which lpasses through an a erture in a portion of t ebracket m; The cad of the screw 51 abuts upon the upper surface of said portion of the racket (see Figs. 4 and 5). Thus the screw 51 limits the downward movement of the stretcher-foot C under the influence of its spring; and by turning said screw this limit may be changed atwill thereby contributing to the admstment of the pressure with which the stretcher-foot engages the material. The bracket m is ad ustably securedto a connectin -rod 0 which passes throu h a freely rotate. 1e stud p journaled in a TJracket' supplied by the frame of the machine. The upper end of" said connecting-rod 0 is ivoted to an cecentric g on the power sha on has a sleeve encircling the connecting-rod 0 and a setscrew.in said sleeve secures the 18. The bracket bracket in position, and permits ad'u'stment,

of the stretcher-foot toward and bed a (see Fig.1). I

The outline, of the power-shaft 18 is shown in Fi 1 so that the positions ofzthe eccentrics re ative thereto may be readil observed. The eccentric is so dispose that the stretcher-foot G is ust moved, from thc position shown in Fig. 1, in'the direcrom the tion of arrow 52; is then moved upwardly away from the material; is returned to posi- .tion for ren aging the materialya'nd is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows the stretcherfoot G just after it has been lifted from the material.

The lower stretcher-foot D is supplied by the upper end'of a lever '7- 'iulcrumedat 53 lower end of, the '-lever 1"1 'is connected by a link 54 to; a-"s'hort rank-.55 on the rock-shaft i the movement of which causes the stretcherfoot D to oscillate .in conson'ance with the i h 'r stretcher-foot ot=D"moves"o statlonarya 1s he-arctic tcimle. a

- path is rendered-- immaterial, -however'=1=by I upper stretcher footC which presses upon a bracket rigid with thegba'se 1b.,- The mns qaenu ie {path 1- ;T e eu t re ottlns r I lastly moved ownwardly into the position .ste r ..constantly against the material-"asitlre by means 0 the parts are in the positions Fig. 4 the line of centers of 15 is lifted from a ,thei.r,.;.s tretchingioliicewT e two ed e-tel er;- i etm e theflm'ater al l series of belt pulleys 56 rigid with the, power A' andl jthefressenfoot l3'may be elevated then serves to thereby lifting the knife-plunger 16 and by the feed-feet, the slot in the arm 20 is disposed obliquely to the vertical; and fur- 'feed-frame 0, so as 'fumsonrn the direction of arrow 34, ,(Fi '3 "movement fed at a proximately the end of the'fiiiiit half revol utionofgithe shaft 18; and accompanied by further in unison whentheyhave-ze aged elevation of th 'nifef l1, lifting 1of.:the ,ib tween .themand'consequ 'tly 'presserfoot iiph'h they exertsubstantially equal pulls t, ately the feed n ences, elevation of-the th reby diminishing the likelihood.- fold-presser' 1" l'uppermost limitiof ing the material. travel, and the. I, of the stretcher-feet The machinQiSa-driven through on C andD to their, final positions preparatory to engaging the stock.

The feed-feet remain temporarily stationary,'in engagement with the material, at the end of a feed movement, while the knife 11 descends to snip the edge, bringin with it the resser-foot 13. As soon as t e latter seats against the matb'riahthe upper'feedfoot A; is lifted and concurrently the lower feed-foot B- is depressed so that-both are removed from active engagement withthe material (see Fig. 4). During these actions the fold-Presser 15 has begun to move down- -Wardly' and the stretcher-feet haveeng'aged the material and begun their active stretching movement (assuming, for convenience,

two' stretcherfeet move to ether to rm shaft 18. referably the various parts of the mechanism are in the ositions shown in Fig.4 when thematerialls first introduced. Ifor, g're er conveniences the upper feed-foot the lifter 49 and then released again aften the material has been properly inserted. The first action of the machine move the feed-feet A and B toward each other to engage the material. It will be noted ,(see Fig. 1% that the ec- I centrics 17 and j are opposite y disposed on the shaft 18 and consequently, as said shaft moves in the direction of the arrow 44, the arm 20 will be "elevated while the link 43 is being depressed, and vice versa. When indicated in eccentrics 17 andj is substantially vertical, the link 43 being at about the limit of its upward movement; and, therefore, further rotation of the. shaft 18 moves said link downwardly thereby rocking the crank 42 and the crank it, and moving the link 41 so as to rotate the cam f in a direction opposite to the arrow 45 in Fig. 1; This elevates the feed-foot B. Goncurrently with the downward movement of the link 43, the arm 29 is slightly elevated to be engaged by the stretcher-feet). Thus I far the, shaft 18 has advanced through approximately three-fourths of a revolution bringing the parts into the positions-shownin Fig. 1.

As already stated the feed-feet do not depart from =.,he material until the presser-foot has firmly engaged it, and hence itis constantly engaged by one or the'othen During approximately-the lastquarter revolution of the shaft 18, the stretcher-feet C and D complete their stretching movement just before the foldresser performs its pressing ofiice, the material bein r movement by the presser-foot; and then the upper stretcher-foot O is lifted from the ma terial. At the same time the feed-feet are separated until they disengage the material andare returned to; their initial positions. Thus all the parts resume, at the end of the cycle, the positions shown in Fi 4.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of cooperating feed-feet; a feed-fra1ne for controllin one of saidfeet; means independent of the feed-frame for elevating and depressing the other feedfoot; and actuating mechanism for said parts;

rocking the lever 46 with the result that the feed-plunger and upper. feed-foot are depressed. Thus the feed-feet are brought together upon opposite sides of the'material which is yieldingly enga ed between them by reason of the upper eed-foot A being held down by the tension of the spring 47. During the movement just described, the knife 11 is elevated slightly; thefoldresser previously assume pressing position the presserrfootl3- remains stationary; and the stretcher-feet C and D are separated and begin their return trav'el preparatory to the next engagement of the material. All these movements take place during approximately one-sixth of a revolution of the shaft 18.

At the time the material is finally grasped combination of cooperating feed-feet; an adjustable cam for elevating one of said feet; a'spring for depressing said foot; a feedframe for controlling the other foot and for causing both feed-feet to feed the material; and actuating mechanism for said parts.

. 3. In a machine of the class described, the

t er upward movement of said arm moves the pin on arm 30, and therethrough the to carry the feed-feet in or feeding the material. This fee ing that the material has progressed far enough a eginsto rise. immediat held against bodily v v 2. In a machine'of theolass described-the 'said feet; a

foot, arrange to be moved endwise by the combination of coo crating feed-feet; a

movablev feed-frame or controlling one of ivoted carrier for tne other feed-frame; means for rocking said carrier on its pivot; and actuating mechanism for said arts.

4. n a machine of the class described, the combination of cooperating feed-feet; a movable feed-frame for controlling one of said ivoted carrier for the other foot,

' to ,fold the material, means to stretch the 'material comprising an upper and a lower engaging member, and actuating mechanism to move the lower engaging member inde- Eendentlyof the upper engaging member at in unison therewith to stretch the ma-' terial.

6. In a machine'of the class described, feeding means, folding means, stretching means, and actuating mechanism therefor, said stretching, means comprising cooperto be moved endwise by the feed-v atin en aging devices. to en age'the materia to e stretched between t em, and said actuating mechanism including means for" moving the cooperating engaging devices in UfillSOIl to stretch the material engaged by t em. 1

7. Ina machine of the class described, feedin means; folding means; cooperating stretching devices arranged for movement in substantially parallel paths for stretchin the materia actuating mechanism for sai parts arranged to cause the stretching de vices to engage the material when it has been fed, to stretch the material before the folding means has completed its operation, and to hold'the material stretched until the folding means has completed its 0 erationrisand means for holding-the materia a'gainst bodily movement while the stretching de- "vices perform their ofiice. 4

In testimony whereof I have signed my, name to this specification in -the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' RICHARD H. LUFKIN.-

Witnesses:

LAURENCE A. JANNEY, ARTHUR L. RUSSELL. 

